Floss Reappointed to Fiscal Stability Board

Frederick Floss, professor of economics and finance, was reappointed as a director of the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Board by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on February 5. The board provides financial oversight over the budgets, financial plans, and capital plans of the City of Buffalo. Floss has served on the board since 2009.

"We've been making continuous progress," said Floss, "but we won't be out of the woods until every union has a contract and the city budget is balanced." Resolving issues facing the Buffalo Public Schools is the next biggest issue, he said.

In December 2013, Floss was appointed executive director of the Fiscal Policy Institute (FPI) by its board of directors. The FPI is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit, research and education organization committed to improving public policies to “better the economic and social conditions of all New Yorkers,” according to its website.

As FPI director, Floss addressed the joint meeting of the New York State Senate Finance and the Assembly Ways and Means Committees on February 10 in Albany. In his testimony, Floss presented the FPI’s analysis of the economic conditions of New York State and the policies that the governor is proposing to revitalize the state. "Our greatest concern now is that tax cuts at this point in the budget cycle may not have the impact that its proponents anticipate," said Floss.

Floss, an expert in public policy and taxes as well as forensic economics, served as president of the United University Professions, the union that represents faculty and professional staff throughout the State University of New York system.

"I’m proud to represent the governor on the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority," said Floss. "It's to his credit that he is interested in including people who bring different perspectives to bear on the problems we are all facing."

Floss also continues his role at Buffalo State, where he teaches in the graduate program offered by the Economic and Finance Department.